CAMPUS AND AREA
University Daily Kansan, September 12, 1984
Page 8
New radio voice of the Jayhawks starts this fall
By BRENDA STOCKMAN
Staff Reporter
A new "voice of the Kansas Jayhawks" combined with a different radio broadcasting system have started a new era in KU inter-collegiate sports broadcasting this fall.
This spring, the athletic department decided to scrap its own broadcast network in favor of selling the broadcast rights to KU athletic events. The sale of the broadcast rights will earn the department a minimum of $5,000 more this year than last.
The change in broadcast marketing coincided with a change in the play-by-play announcer of football and basketball games.
Joe Wilkins III/KANSAN Bob Davis
Davis was hired by Learfair Communications, Jefferson City, Mo., last spring after Learfair purchased the broadcast rights
AFTER NINE CONSECTIVE years, Tom Hedrick is no longer the 'voice of the Jayhawks.' His successor is Bob Davis, an account executive for KLWN-AM in Lawrence.
Hedrick said recently that he agreed with Monte Johnson, athletic director, who thought the broadcasts could use a "change of voice."
Davis said his performance on
Saturday during KU's season-
opening football game against Wichita State University had been acceptable.
"I don't suppose you're ever completely satisfied," he said.
Davis said he was pleased with the way the announcing crew worked together.
THE BROADCAST UNDER the new system included a 30-minute pre-game show that had not been done before. Davis said. Other added features include interviews with the coaches and a review of events at other Big Eight Conference schools.
Davis' contract is for one year, but he said, "I'd certainly like to do it as
passes as long as he. Davis, who has been a broadcaster for 16 years, is a three-time winner of the Kansas sportsscaster of the year award. He has done play-by-play announcing for Fort Hays State University and has filled in for Hedrick at KU.
long as possible."
Listening to KU's first football game of the season instead of announcing the game was strange, Hedrick said.
Joe Wilkins III/KANSAN
Tom Hendrick
He left the position not because the network had changed, but because "I wanted to try something different," he said.
Hedrick, who also called KU games during the 1960s, said he was burnt out after 16 years of Jayhawk broadcasting
AS DIRECTOR OF the network,
Hedrick sold advertising, did the
play-by-play and promoted the show
to stations around the state.
Hedrick remains at KU as an assistant professor of broadcasting in the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications. He is also a free-lance announcer.
"I wanted to stay at the University and have a solid paycheck," Hetrick said.
Although Davis has replaced Hedrick, KU sporting events can still be heard around the state. Learfield has contracted with stations statewide
that will carry the shows, said Doug Vance, director of the sports information office.
The rights fee under the new contract with Learfield Communications is $55,000 for the first year. Vance said.
Hedrick said the network made a $50,000 profit last year.
VANCE SAID, "If the equity exceeds a certain amount then it's a shared revenue."
"In addition to the rights fee, there are a lot of other promotional areas we gain from." Vance said.
KU and Learfield will begin to divide the revenue after it reaches $110,000.
Some of the promotions Leairfield must provide under the contract are 20 billboards, 50,000 bumper stickers, a call in show with the coaches and a minimum of five promotion spots on the play-by-play broadcasts, he said.
Vance said 28 stations had contracted with Leafear to carry broadcasts of KU's football games.
Hedrick said that last year between 25 and 28 stations had contracted to carry the football and basketball play-by-plays.
LEARMFIELD BOUGHT the radio broadcasting rights for KU's inter-collegiate events for five years. Vance said.
Robert Fowler, general manager of Learfield Communications' Sports, said that Learfield also owned the rights to events at Iowa State University. Oklahoma State University and the University of Missouri.
Learfield has been invited to buy the rights to the other four universities in the Big Eight, but Fowler would probably turn down the invitation.
"We want to solidify the network operations at KU, OSU and ISU." Fowler said.
He said that this was the first year Learfield would be broadcasting events at the three universities
ON CAMPUS
TODAY
UNIVERSITY FORUM will meet at 11:45 a.m. at Ecumenical Christian Ministries, 1204 Oread Ave. Charles Geboe, vice president of Haskell Indian Junior College, and entitled "Haskell Centennial: The Past and The Future." Call 843-4933 for luncheon reservations.
THE BROWN BAG LUNCH at noon in 119 Lippincott Hall will feature George Woodyard, professor of Spanish and Portuguese, speaking on "New Currents in Latin American Theatre."
YOUNG AMERICANS for Freedom will meet at 7 p.m. in the International Room of the Union.
COLLEGE YOUNG DEMOCRATS will meet at 9 p.m. in the Jayhawk Room of the Union.
DR. PAUL G. LIMBERG
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"WE MAKE HOUSE CALLS"
KANSAS RELAYS STUDENT COMMITTEE
IS LOOKING FOR NEW MEMBERS
For Application come by the TRACK OFFICE
143 Allen Field House Deadline is Sept. 21,1984
Another pair of proud parents prefer perfect Pyramid Pizza on Parent's Day . . .
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842-3232
Today On Campus K.U. Bookstores SIDEWALK SALE
SEPTEMBER
12
Check out the bargains at the K(I Bookstores' Sidewalk
Sale, east of the Kansas Union. Super buys on clothing, supplies and books with many miscellaneous items too! Sale hours are between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.so stop in between classes and rummage our sale tables. Don't forget to sign up for our free drawing for a 12 speed
bicycle, clock radio
radio telephones and more! Rain date Sept. 13th.
This event is one of many activities planned for the weeklong Kansas Union Open House, Sept. 11-15. For more information call 864 3477 or 864-4596.